Two South Regional TAFE Hospitality and Cookery students have represented Western Australia at the Fine Food Australia 2026 cookery competition held in Melbourne.
Siena Simms from Caves House Hotel and Fiona Heyink from Dear Darnell competed over four days against other apprentices from across Australia by preparing dishes of their own creations using a set food list from the organisers.
Siena was awarded a Bronze Medal, while Fiona received a Silver Medal and was named the overall national winner in the first-year apprentice category.
Both students were selected to travel to Victoria for the competition after winning gold and silver medals respectively in the Australian Culinary Federation competition, held at the TAFE’s Bunbury campus for the first time.
Lecturer Kathryn Tindal-Davies accompanied the students to Melbourne and remarked on the student’s maturity and drive to represent Western Australia at an interstate level.
“Siena and Fiona demonstrated significant dedication and commitment, as they were required to prepare for these competitions alongside their work and apprenticeship duties,” Kathryn said.
“I am incredibly proud of both students who seized the opportunity to grow their cookery knowledge, learn from the food fair demonstrations and make industry contacts from across the country.
“Our South West hospitality was also on show with both students showing kindness and a unique willingness to assist their fellow competitors.
“Hosting the Australian Culinary Federation at our Bunbury campus this year reduced the travel requirements and ensured that we were well represented by South West students.”
Managing Director Blair Marsh congratulated the students on representing South Regional TAFE and on their success.
“Competitions like this allow us to demonstrate how students can excel in industry-based training where they learn on the job with an employer while perfecting their skills onsite at a TAFE campus,” he said.
“Our cookery teams have proven they can provide a world-class education to support the flourishing industry that we see in the South West Region and beyond.
“I congratulate Siena and Fiona and our lecturing teams at Bunbury and Margaret River campuses for supporting and mentoring these students to reach the highest levels.”
Siena and Fiona will represent Western Australia again in Vietnam in April 2027, where they will compete in a three-day cooking competition of varying crafts.
Applications are now open to train at South Regional TAFE in 2027. Visit southregionaltafe.wa.edu.au to explore our course options.